Sermon Text For Developing Men of Character: Philippians 2:19-24

19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state.

20 For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.

21 For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's.

22 But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.

23 Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me.

24 But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly.

Introduction:

  • We are created after the likeness of God. 
  • In our morals and motives, we are to reflect God’s character. 
  • Therefore, we are to be not only an extension of his life…
  • Young Men of Character is an expression of His character. 
  • If our salvation is working, our life is an expression of what God is like.
  • What the world needs now more than ever are followers of Jesus who are Young Men of Character.

Body:

  • Paul begins this passage by saying, "If the Lord Jesus is willing, I hope to send Timothy to you soon for a visit. Then he can cheer me up by telling me how you are getting along."
  • The reason for sending Timothy is very different from Paul's usual reason to send one of his co-workers to a church.
    • Typically he sends them out:
    • to straighten up a problem or finish something not completed. 
    • However, here Paul states that it is for his sake, so he can know how they are doing
  • But this begs the question, "why send Timothy?"
  • Reading these verses, it's easy to see how excited Paul was to hear some good news and who better than Timothy his trusted son in the Lord.
  • Young Timothy would bring the good message Paul was seeking

Develop Young Men of Character that have - WILLINGNESS!

  1. His willingness to be circumcised as an adult is clearly a mark of his commitment. (Timothy's mixed Greek/Jewish background could have created problems on their missionary journeys because many of their audiences would be made up of Jews who were concerned about the strict keeping of this tradition. Timothy's submission to the rite of circumcision helped to avoid that potential problem.)
  2. His willingness to go where Paul told him to go, even when it was difficult.
    1. Studying 1 Corinthians 4 last week, we should have picked up that Paul sent Timothy to Corinth as well.
    2. Imagine being a Corinthian and having Paul rebuke you, and then to add insult to injury have the rebuke come from a young guy
    3. Timothy didn't shy away.

Develop Young Men of Character that - CARE

  • But not just a willing heart, also a Man that cares
  • Knowledge is a wonderful thing and we must continue to learn.
  • But until people have the sense that you care about them - knowledge actually means nothing.
  • "Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around."
  • After stating that he was sending Timothy to the Philippians to help guide them and to cheer him by advising him of their situation, Paul made a puzzling statement.
  • Timothy was the only one who was "likeminded," or the only one who had the same kind of genuine interest in the Philippians that Paul had.
  • He can count on Timothy to go to Philippi and care about how they are getting along, and specifically, are they standing together in the face of strong opposition.
  • Paul is deeply concerned for their welfare, and he cannot go himself, so he does the next best thing - he is going to send Timothy
  • We care because Christ cared for us first.
    • 1 John 4:19
    • We love each other because he loved us first.

Develop Young Men of Character that Can Be - TRUSTED

  • Timothy had proved himself over a period of time.
  • Timothy had been with Paul during Paul’s ministry in Philippi. 
  • The Philippian church knew Timothy’s value, sound character, and worthiness.
  • The church knew that Timothy’s coming would be equal to that of the arrival of Paul himself, for Timothy had served with Paul as a son with his father.
  • Paul and Timothy had developed a special bond; Paul had led Timothy to Christ during his first missionary journey.
  • In the first century, the Greeks valued highly the service a son gave to his father.
  • Yet Paul realized that both he and Timothy were servants of Jesus Christ; thus he wrote that Timothy had helped him in preaching the Good News across the empire
  • Then Paul says, "I hope to send him to you just as soon as I find out what is going to happen to me here."
  • News was difficult to send because it had to be carried by messenger—a sometimes dangerous undertaking given travel conditions at various times of the year.

 

Conclusion:

What the world needs now more than ever are Young Men that are people of character. 

 

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